The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-31
A GREAT BATTLE.
An Alligator Tackles Three Bulls and
Kills Two of Them.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.

hlllS Two Oh IAoIus
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
KIssIMMEE, FLA, Dec. ia very ex-
citing and sanguinary contest between a
huge bull alligator aud several head of cat
tie occurred Saturday few miles below
here, on the bank of Lake Tohopakaligo, in
which the alligator was killed and two bulls
so badly injured that they had to be shot,
and another was rendered almost horS de
combat A party of hunters, several of
them visitors from the Tropical Hotel here,
were camping out on the lower shell mound,
eight miles southeast of here, which
overlooks the lake, though several
hundred rods from the shore, which
is marshy and grassy. Cattle gather near
there by the hundreds, as the grass is
always fresh, and black flies, their bane on
most lake sides, generally absent. While
eating their dinner that day the hunters
were startled by loud bellowings that came
from the lake, accompanied by the we'll
known ''cryn or grunt of alligators. On
hastily getting to the bluff most exciting
scene was witnessed. From the appearance
of the field it would seem that one of the
old bulls went to the shore for water, and as
he was drinking big gator swan up and
seized his nose. The spectators came on the
field just a moment atterward.
The bull, a big black, with a pair of
magnificent sharp horns slightly curving
backward, was taken at terrible disadvan-
tage, and began believing loudly and en-
deavoring to shake off his antagonist. The
gator had secured firm bold, however,
and he chung tenaciously, churning the
water into foam with his immense tall the
blood streaming from the bulls lacerated
nose, already dyeing the waters red. With
a mighty effort the bull plunged backward,
hauling his attachment" partially on dry
land, and the fun waxed furious. The bull,
rendered frantic from the pain, endeavored
to hook the gator, and, failing in that,
stamped at him and plunged around madly
to get rid of his foe, Attracted by his bel
lowings, two other bulls came turiously
down the slide, and, seeing the gator
plunged at him. Observing his new
enemies, the latter tried to escape, but too
late.
One of them caught his horn near the
gators fore leg, and with an upward toss
tore big hole in his side, the saurian re-
spending with deep roar of anger and
pain As the other bull came ON tie gator
thrashed around with his tail and gave the
animal a terrible blow, knocking him over
on his side with a dull thump His firsr
victim was now free, and the three thor
oughly Infatuated animals surrounded their
foe, believing and with lowered heads, pre-
senting picket of sharp horns which the
saurian didn't like, as he attempted to crawl
into the water His three opponents now
began a systematic warfare.
First one would dash at him, escaping the
flying tail of the big reptile, and give him a
dig with his horns, and endeavor to toss him
The gator was getting weaker all the while,
and, though still game, he seemed anxious to
cry quits. One of the bulls allowed his
anger to blind him finally and as he came
on without his usual caution the reptile
whiried and delivered a sweeping blow with
his tail that caught the animals legs,
breaking them ike pipe-stems, the old
fellow falling with roar of madness that
could have been heard a mile, while the
saurian's eyes seemed to CLEAN with triumph
as they glowered at his enemies. Then en-
sued a rough-and-tumble contest which no
description could do justice to. The bulls
plunged viciously mt him, oftentimes hitting
one another in their mad rushes, while tbs
alligator swept his big tail around III end
less circles and inflicted terrible whacks on
their sides and legs. For over twenty min
utes this was continued, the mingled roars
OF the Infatuated animals producing ear
splitting sounds.
Finally the gat r again seized his first
victim by the nose, and with death grip
The other animal plunged in, and catching
both horns under the gators side gave him
a toss. ripping him up so thar his entraiis
prOtruded. The effect was seen at once as
his terrible fail played more feebly, but his
hold on the bulls nose could not be broken
Several more ugly wounds We're made, and
the reptiles roars of anger changed to those
OF pain aud fear. His antagonist charged
at him time and time again, lacerating him
terribly. Finally no resistance was made.
the victor trampling on the bloody carcass,
though the terrible grip OF those iron jaws
still maintained their hold on the nose of
the first bull, who had been forced TO his
knees and was fast dying from the terrible
blows he had received and the great loss of
blood. Several of the watchers then went
down and mercifully shot the two wounded
bulls. -
The alligator, which measured, as near as
they could ascertain, over II feet, the head
and jaws being u feet, was literally torn 10
pieces and disemboweled The blow deliy-
ere / by the gators tail broke several ribs
of the bull, whose legs were also broken.
while even the victor was badly Injured
The one which had been seized by the nose
pre- ented horrible appearance, the flesh
having been stripped to the bone by the
iron bold of the saurian's jaws. The
gators attack young cows and calves very
often, and the annual loss to the cattle
owners amounts 20 hundreds of dollars
But it is seldom a bull is attacked, as they
are SO wild as to become very ferocious and
dangerous.